Environment

As World Water Day approaches this Wednesday, March 22, it is an important moment in time for both individuals and businesses alike to take a step back and reexamine water’s interconnectedness with broader environmental and human rights challenges. Thankfully, more companies are making strides in offering real solutions to many of the planet’s most challenging water issues, partly in response to the water-related Sustainable Development Goal (Goal #6).

Whether at the General Motors’ headquarters in the Great Lakes State or an assembly plant in a water-stressed area of Brazil, GM is consistently looking for ways to conserve water. In honor of World Water Day, here are five tips for industrial water conservation from Todd Williams, GM’s senior project engineer for water and wastewater treatment.

World Water Day 2017 asks the question "Why Waste Water?" and highlights the linkages between water, wastewater, and sustainable development.

Our efforts to reduce carbon emissions were acknowledged in 2016 with our inclusion in the ‘Climate A List’. CDP assessed companies globally from across 10 industry sectors; we were one of only 193 companies (9% of applicants) and seven healthcare companies to be A-listed.

As we learn more about how sustainable building techniques can be used for industrial purposes, we are putting this knowledge into practice with similar projects in the UK, where GSK funding led to the construction of the country’s first ever carbon neutral laboratory in Nottingham.

Atlas Copco USA’s employee-run program Water for All has surpassed $1 million in donations. The milestone comes after making a $50,000 contribution to charity: water, a New York-based nonprofit organization dedicated to funding water projects across the globe.

As part of the 10th anniversary of its Cox Conserves sustainability program, Cox Enterprises is announcing its support of the Atlanta Bicycle Coalition’s (ABC) Atlanta Streets Alive open streets initiative. Cox is joining Atlanta Streets Alive at the Road Captain level, supporting ABC’s efforts to develop a more livable and accessible Atlanta by making biking equitable, safe and appealing.

In celebration of World Water Day, the James M. Cox Foundation announced a $1 million grant to support the efforts of American Rivers to protect and restore the nation’s rivers.

Did you know that a metric ton of electronic waste can contain 8 to 16 ounces of gold? Whether we like it or not, precious metals show up in more than just that gold necklace or platinum ring we might have purchased - from the titanium used in our high-end mountain bikes, to platinum in our cellphones, to silver in our solar panels, precious metals are all around us.

At Whirlpool Corporation, we are passionate about improving our consumers’ quality of life while minimizing our environmental impact. We have been focused on sustainability since 1969, long before it became the norm, and we continue to integrate it into our everyday work. Join us in celebrating World Water Day!